manual for commanders of infantry platoons. - US Army Combined ...

182 ~CNANUAL FOR CO]~LtITANDERS OF INFI~ANTRYe PLATOONJS.
3. Preparactionz for a grenad~e assauzl't or *ahostile trernct. -An
assault is usually a combined action executed under cover of a
powerful artillery fire. But sometimes a part of our line comes
very ~close to the enemy and artillery preparation can not be
made. An attempt is then mlade to overwhelm the enemy with
grenades before rushing on him with the bayonet.
The throwers approach the enemy, taking advantage of all
cover afforded by the ground; the remainder of thzesquad
axvaits under cover the moment for matking the rush. The
throwers overwhelm the enemy with a shower- of well-directed
grenlades and compel himl eithier to vacazte the trenchz or1 to take
cover in his bombproofs; the a sault is then made.
4. Close fighting inz the en~emy~'s pos~ition an~d "mnopping up "
·tr'enzches-An assaultis followed by a struggle with~in the hostile
position. Preparationsmay be made in advance for this struggle
by a reconnaissance of the enemy's defensive organization. Certalin
groups of grenadiers can then be assigned to definite tasks;
for instance, mopping up the trenches and bornbproofs, or gaining
ground through the communicating trenches toward the
enemy's second or third line. The units which are assigned
these tasks are requir~ed to*rehlecare them before making the
attack.
Mi$opping up trenches reqluires two kinds of work which are
quite distinct and which should not be assigned to the same
units: (ac) The crushing of hostile units which continue the
resistances at certain parts of the trench, and (b) the mnopping
up proper; that is to say, searchings the trenches and bomlbproofs
with a, view to making sure that none of the enemy are left in
them?.
The units which overcome the final resistance of the enemy are
composed for the most part, if not exclusively, of grenaldiers.
They advance with the first or second wave; they are continually
on the niert and seek out the points of resistance, skirting
the trenches in order to approach them? on their weakest side.
The units charged only with moppingf up the tr~enches have a
nefinite task; they skirt the trenches and approaches rapidily
and arrange their work in such a way that no- part of the
hostile position shall be neglected. In order to lose no time the
mnoppers up do not; go down into the trenches and approaches;
they shower grenades along their route and they give especial